Probe assembly

ABSTRACT

A probe assembly for a converter is disclosed and has a frame and a mounting head pivotable on the frame. Mounting head rotating means are connected to the mounting head for causing relative movement between the frame and the mounting head. A boom is pivotable on the mounting head and boom rotating means are connected to the boom by causing relative rotative movement between the mounting head and the boom. A probe holder is pivotable on the free end of the boom, a probe holder rotating means is connected to the probe holder for causing relative rotative movement between the probe holder and the boom, and a probe is disposed on the probe holder. The probe holder rotating means are operable to rotate the probe holder and the probe on the boom from a probe park position adjacent the boom, away from the boom and toward the mouth to a probe mouth clearing position. The mounting head rotating means rotates the mounting head from a mounting head park position on the frame through an intermediate mounting head position to a mounting head sampling position where the mounting head is in the sampling position and where the probe can clear the mouth to move into the probe sampling position. The boom rotating means rotates the boom on the mounting head from the boom park position to the boom sampling position and the probe holder rotating means rotates the probe holder on the boom to a probe sampling position where the probe passes through the slag and into the molten metal.

United States Patent [191 Grant PROBE ASSEMBLY [75] Inventor: Louis A. Grant, Plum Borough, Pa.

[73] Assignee: United States Steel Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.

[22] Filed: May 29, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 364,790

[52] US. Cl. 266/34 LM [51] Int. Cl. C216 5/32 [58] Field of Search 73/DIG. 9, 354, 343 R,

73/359, 423, 425.4 R; 266/34 L, 34 LM [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,638,500 2/1972- Wetzelh... 73/423 Primary ExaminerGerald A. Dost Attorney, Agent, or FirmRalph H. Dougherty 7/1973 Sczerba 73/343 R 451 Aug. 20, 1974 tween the frame and the mounting head. A boom is pivotable on the mounting head and boom rotating means are connected to the boom by causing relative rotative movement between the mounting head and the boom. A probe holder is pivotable on the free end of the boom, a probe holder rotating means is connected to the probe holder for causing relative rotative movement between the probe holder and the boom, and a probe is disposed on the probe holder. The probe holder rotating means are operable to rotate the probe holder and the probe on the boom from a probe park position adjacent the boom, away from the boom and toward the mouth to a probe mouth clearing position. The mounting head rotating means rotates the mounting head from a mounting head park position on the frame through an intermediate mounting head position to a mounting head sampling position where the mounting head isin the sampling'position and where the probe can clear the mouth to move into the probe sampling position. The boom rotating means rotates the boom on the mounting head from the boom park position to the boom sampling position and the probe holder rotating means rotates the probe holder on the boom to a probe sampling position where the probe passes through the slag and'into the molten metal.

18 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTED M2 3.830.480

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Fla s PATENTEB V $680,480

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sum .08 UF10 PATENTEDMIBZOW aaaomao sum oanr1o PROBE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I am aware of the following prior art:

U.S. Pat. No. Inventor Issued Class 1,706,432 Truesdell 3/26/29 2,016,670 Fassett /8/35 73/21 2,822,163 McFeaters 2/4/58 266/34 3,002,739 Lawler 10/3/61 266/35 3,007,691 Rinesch et a1. 11/7/61 266/34 3,129,930 Labat-Camy 4/21/64 263/ 3,201,103 Scherff 8/17/65 266/34 3,276,759 Kardos et a1. 10/4/66 266/34 3,277,716 Cox 10/11/66 73/359 3,313,159 Vanderbeck 4/11/67 73/423 3,358,982 Penn 12/19/67 266/34 3,374,122 Cole 3/19/68 136/234 3,386,722 Brooks et al. 6/4/68 266/34 3,390,578 Moore 7/2/68 73/359 3,394,928 Widel 6/30/68 266/34 3,396,580 Cole 8/13/68 73/425.2 3,439,912 Berger 4/22/69 266/34 3,446,316 Kania et al. 5/27/69 187/83 3,480,267 Gregord et a1. 1 l/25/69 266/34 3,501,926 Abarotin 3/24/70 73/425.4 3,503,259 Carlson et al. 3/31/70 73/354 3,549,139 Marxen 12/22/70 266/34 3,559,452 Perbix et a1. 2/2/71 73/17 3,597,975 Kern et al. 8/10/71 73/343 3,501,136 Schweng et al. 3/17/70 266/34 3,610,601 Bishop, Jr. 10/5/71 266/34 3,632,100 Schneider l/4/72 266/42 Br. 1,045,497 Roach 10/12/66 F 27 d OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is the general object of this invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other difficulties of and objections to prior art practices by the provision of an improved probe assembly for a converter type vessel having an opening therein. The improved probe assembly:

l. is simple and rugged in construction;

2. is easily maintained and has a long operational life;

3. is capable of measuring the temperature of the molten metal;

4. can sense the gaseous content in the molten metal;

5. can sample the molten metal;

6. is operational during the blow period of the converter operation; and

7. is not impaired by splashing of the molten metal above the slag line on the molten metal.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The aforesaid objects of this invention and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds are achieved by providing an improved probe assembly for a converter which is pivotable about a horizontal axis from the vertical blow position to an inclined metal position and has a mouth and contains molten metal covered by slag. The probe assembly has a frame and a mounting head pivotable on the frame. Mounting head rotating means are connected to the mounting head for causing relative movement between the frame and the mounting head. A boom is pivotable on the mounting head and boom rotating means are connected to the boom by causing relative rotative movement between the mounting head and the boom. A probe holder is pivotable on the free end of the boom, a probe holder rotating means is connected to the probe holder for causing relative rotative movement between the probe holder and the boom and a probe is disposed on the probe holder. The probe holder rotating means are operable to rotate the probe holder and the probe on the boom from a probe park position adjacent the boom, away from the boom and toward the mouth to a probe mouth clearing position. The mounting head rotating means rotates the mounting head from a mounting head park position on the frame through an intermediate mounting head position to a mounting head sampling position where the mounting head is in the sampling position and where the probe can clear the mouth to move into the probe sampling position. The boom rotating means rotates the boom on the mounting head from the boom park position to the boom sampling position and the probe holder rotating means rotates the probe holder on the boom to a probe sampling position where the probe passes through the slag and into the molten metal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of this invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a converter pivotable about its horizontal axis from a vertical blow position (not shown) to an inclined metal sampling position and showing the improved probe assembly of the present invention with the probe and probe holder, boom and mounting head in the park position and showing also in the phantom line position the movement of the probe and probe holder to the probe mouth clearing position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows and showing the movement of the mounting head and boom from the park position through an intermediate position where the probe and probe holder can be extended into the converter preparatory for its movement to a mounting head sampling position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1 of the converter and improved probe assembly and showing the probe park position of the probe holder and probe, the intermediate position of the mounting head and boom and in phantom lines the probe mouth clearing position of the probe holder and probe;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the mounting head, boom, and probe holder and probe in the metal sampling position and illustrating the movement of the boom from the boom park position to the boom sampling position and the movement of the probe holder and probe from the probe mouth clearing position to such sampling position and also showing as an alternative embodiment a two-part telescoping boom having boom reciprocating means for controlling the length of such boom;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the mounting head, the boom and the probe holder and probe in the sampling position and illustrating in the phantom lines the intermediate position of such parts;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and showing the probe assembly in the sampling position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 4 and showing the retraction of the boom from the solid line boom sampling position to the schematic phantom line boom park position and also showing the retraction of the probe holder and the probe from the solid line probe sampling position to the schematic phantom line probe mouth clearing position;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 and and showing the movement of the mounting head from the solid line mounting head sampling position through the phantom line intermediate position where the boom and probe holder and probe can be retracted to the probe mouth clearing position and thence to the phantom line sample removal position of the mounting head and the boom;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 6 and showing the improved probe assembly in the sample removal position; and

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic timing chart showing the timed interrelated movements of the probe and probe holder, the boom, the mounting head, and the boom reciprocating means.

Although the principles of this invention are broadly applicable to converters of the Bessemer, basic oxygen furnace, Q-BOP type or the like, this invention is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with a Q-BOP furnace and hence it has been so illustrated and will be so described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With specific reference to the form of this invention illustrated in the drawings and referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, a probe assembly 10 for a 0-30? converter 12 is indicated in FIGS. 1-9. This converter 12 is pivotable about a horizontal axis AA (FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) on trunnions 14 (FIGS. 1, 3-9) from a vertical blow position (not shown in FIG. 1) to phantom line inclined metalv sampling position shown in FIGS. I and 3. The converter 12 is provided with a mouth 16 (FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) and contains molten metal 18 (FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9) covered by a slag layer 20 (FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9).

PROBE ASSEMBLY 10 This probe assembly 10 has a frame, suitably a pair means 30 (FIG. 1) are mounted on .the plate 24 and connected to the mounting head 26 for causing relative rotative movement between the frame or the plate 24 and the mounting head 26.

MOUNTING HEAD ROTATING MEANS 30 This mounting head rotating means30 shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a motor 32 (FIGS. 1, 4) mounted on the plate 24 and carries a pinion gear 34 (FIGS. 1, 4) on a shaft 36 (FIGS. 1, 4) of the motor 32, which pinion gear 34 engages and rotates a pinion gear 38 (FIGS. 1, 4, 7, 9) mounted on the pivot shaft 28 for the mounting head 26. The motor32 is connected by lines L1, L2 (FIG. 1) to a starting switch 40 (FIG. 1) to a suitable voltage supply indicated by the legend A-C SUPPLY.

As shown in FIGS. 1-9, a boom 42 is pivotable on the mounting head 26 on a shaft 44 (FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9). In order to cause relative rotative movement between the mounting head 26 and the boom 42, boom rotating means 46 (FIGS. 1, 4, 6, 7, 9) are mounted on the mounting head 26 and connected to the boom 42.

BOOM ROTATING MEANS 46 This boom rotating means 46 (FIGS. 1, 4, 6, 7, 9) has a fluid cylinder 48 (FIGS. 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9) pivotably mounted at 50 (FIGS. 1, 7, 9) on the mounting head 26 and has its piston 52 (FIGS. 1, 4, 6, 7, 9) pivotably connected at 54 (FIGS. 1, 4, 6, 7, 9) on brackets 56 (FIGS. 1, 4, 6, 7, 9) projecting from the other end of the boom 42. As is evident from the above description, elongation or extension of the piston 52 from the fluid cylinder 48 causes the boom 42 to pivot in a clockwise direction about the pivot point or shaft 44 on the mounting head 26.

A probe holder 58 (FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9) is pivotable on a shaft 60 (FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9) on the free end of the boom 42. The means utilized for causing relative rotative movement between the probe holder 58 and the boom 42 is a probe holder rotating means 62 (FIGS. 1, 4, 7, 9) mounted-on the boom 42 and connected to the probe holder 58.

PROBE HOLDER ROTATING MEANS 62 Although the probe holder rotating means 62 (FIGS. 1, 4, 7, 9) may assume many forms as shown particularly in FIG. 1, the pivot or shaft 60 for the probe holder 58 is desirable the shaft of a reversible gear reduced motor 64 (FIGS. 1, 4, 7, 9) mounted by any suitable conventional means such as welding (not shown) or nuts and bolts (not shown) on the free end of the boom 42. The probe holder 58 is secured as by welding,

- or screws or the like (not shown) to the free end of the shaft 60 so that the limited and slow rotation of the reversible gear reduced motor 64 causes rotation of the probe holder 58 with respect to the free end of the boom 42. Such reversible motor 64 is connected by lines L3, L4 (FIG. 1) through a switch 66 (FIG. 1) to a suitable source of voltage indicated by the legend AC SUPPLY. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, a probe 68 is secured in the free end of the probe holder 58 as by set screws (not shown) or the like.

OPERATION Park Position to Sampling Position The probe holder rotating means 62 rotates the probe holder 58 and the probe 68 carried thereby on the boom 42 from the probe park position shown in the solid line position of FIG. 1 adjacent the boom, away from the boom 42 in a counter-clockwise direction (FIG. 1) toward the mouth 16 of the converter l2 to the probe mouth clearing position indicated by the dotted line position of the probe holder 58 and the probe 68 shown in FIG. 1 and through a slot 59a in a splash shield 59b. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the mounting head rotating means 30 is then operable to rotate the mounting head 26 on the frame plate 24 from the mounting head park position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in solid lines through an intermediate dotted line mounting head position (FIGS. 2 and 3) where the probe holder 58 and probe 68 and boom 42 may be extended (as hereinafter explained) so that the probe 68 enters the converter 12 (to a mounting head sampling position shown by the centerline in the left hand portions of FIG. 2) where the mounting head 26 is in the sampling position and the probe 68 can be moved into the probe sampling position.

The boom rotating means 46 is then operable to rotate the boom 42 on the mounting head 26 from the boom park position shown in solid lines of FIGS. 1 and 2 to the boom sampling position (FIG. 4).

Thereafter, the probe holder operating means or rotating means 62 rotates the probe holder 58 and the probe 68 on the boom 42 from the probe mouth clearing position shown in the dotted lines of FIG. 1 to the probe sampling position shown in FIG. 4 where the probe 68 passes through the slag 20 and into the molten metal 18.

It will be understood from a consideration of FIG. that during the time period T, the probe 68 and probe holder 58 have moved from the solid line probe park position (FIG. 1) to the phantom line probe mouth clearing position (FIGS. 1, 3) while the boom 42 remains in the solid line boom park position (FIG. 1) and the mounting head 26 also remains in the solid line mounting head park position (FIG. 1). Thereafter, during the period of time T minus T the probe 68 and probe holder 58 remain in the phantom line probe mouth clearing position (FIGS. 1, 3) and the boom 42 remains in the solid line boom park position (FIG. 1) while the mounting head 26 moves from the solid line mounting head park position (FIG. 1) to the phantom line mounting head intermediate position (FIG. 2). Thereafter, during the time period T minus T the probe 68 and the probe holder 58 move from the phantom line probe mouth clearing position (FIGS. 1, 3) to the phantom line probe extending (or center) position 3 (FIG. 2) while simultaneously the boom 42 moves from the solid line boom park position (FIG. 1) to the solid line boom sampling intermediate (or center) position (FIG. 4). During this period T minus T the mounting head remains in the centerline mounting head intermediate position (FIG. 2).

Thereafter, during the time period T, minus T while the probe 68 and the probe holder 58 are in the phantom line probe extending (or center) position (FIG. 2) out of contact with the slag 20 and the molten metal 18, and while the boom 42 is in the solid line boomsampling position (FIG. 4) the mounting head 26 is rotated from the phantom line mounting head intermediate (or center) position (FIG. 2) to the centerline mounting head sampling position (FIG. 2) so that the probe 68 (FIGS. 4, 6) passes through the slag 20 and into the molten metal 18.

Sampling Position to Sample Removal Position In order to remove the probe assembly 10 from the sampling position shown in FIGS. 4-6, the boom rotating means 46 rotates the boom 42 on the mounting head 26 from the solid line boom sampling position shown in FIGS. 4, 6 to the solid line boom sample removal position shown in FIGS. 7 and 9 during the period T6-T4. Further, during the period T6-T5 the probe holder rotating means 62 rotates the probe holder 58 and the probe 68 carried thereby on the boom 42 from the probe sampling position shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 to the solid line probe mouth clearing po sition shown in FIG. 7. The mounting head rotating means 30 rotates the mounting head 26 on the frame plate 24 from the solid line mounting head sampling position (FIGS. 4-6) through the mounting head intermediate position shown by the dotted centerline posimounting head position) to the mounting head sample removal position shown in the right hand solid line position of FIG. 8 and in FIG. 9 away from the converter 12 to position the probe 68 adjacent an operator 70 (FIG. 9).

Referring again to FIG. 10, during the period of T minus T while the probe 68 and probe holder 58 remain in the solid line probe sampling position (FIGS. 4, 6) and the boom 42 remains in the solid line boom sampling position (FIGS. 4, 6), the mounting head 26 is moved from the left-hand centerline mounting head sampling position (FIG. 8) to the right hand centerline mounting head intermediate position (FIG. 8). While the mounting head 26 remains in the mounting head intermediate position during the period T minus T the probe68 and probe holder 58 move from the solid line probe sampling position (FIGS. 4, 6) to the solid line probe mouth clearing position (FIG. 7) and the boom 42 moves from the solid line boom sampling position (FIGS. 4, 6) to the solid line boom sample removal position (FIGS. 7, 9). Thereafter, during the period of time T minus T the mounting head 36 moves from the right hand centerline mounting head intermediate position (FIG. 8) to the solid line mounting head sample removal position (FIG. 8).

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS It will be understood by those skilled in the art that alternatively, the intermediate positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 8 may be dispensed with and the mounting head 26 can move directly from the mounting head park position to the mounting head sampling position. Further,'during the movement of the probe assembly 10 from the sampling position to the sample removal position, such mounting head 26 can move directly from the mounting head sampling position to the mounting head sample removing position.

Alternatively, for the purpose of extending the length of the boom 42, the boom 42 may be provided with an inner member 72 (FIGS. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7) and an outer member 74 (FIGS. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7) reciprocable with respect to the inner member 72. In addition, for the purpose of lengthening the boom 42 a boom reciprocating means 76 (FIG. 4) may be mounted on one member of the inner member 72 and the outer member 74, in this case as shown in FIG. 4 on the inner member 72. Such boom reciprocating means 76 is'then connected to the other member of the'inner member 72 and the outer member 74 (in this case, the outer member 74) to cause relative movement between the inner member 72 and the outer member 74.

Boom Reciprocating Means 76 I SUPPLY.

Referring now to FIG. 10, it will be appreciated that the boom reciprocating means 76 remains in the boom reciprocating means park position during the time period T minus T Thereafter, during the period T, minus T the boom reciprocating means 76 is operable to lengthen the boom 42 by a desired amount such as the distance D1 to move the probe 68 into the molten metal 18 as such extension or length of the probe assembly 10 is desired. During the movement of the probe assembly 10 from the sampling position to the sampling removal position and specifically during the period T; minus T the boom reciprocating means 76 retracts the outer member 74 of the boom 42 from its extended distance D1 to the original position shown in FIG. 4. Thereafter, during the period T minus T the boom 42 remains in the shortened position and during the period T, minus T (FIG. 10) such boom 42 is extended the desired distance D1 to move the probe 68 closer to the operator 70 while the probe assembly 10 is in the probe sample removal position.

SUMMARY OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the objects of this invention have been achieved by providing an improved probe assembly 10 (FIGS. 1-10) for a converter 12, which probe assembly 10 is simple and rugged in construction; is easily maintained and has a long operational life; is capable of measuring the temperature of the molten metal 18; can sense the gaseous content (such as the oxygen content or the like) in the molten metal 18; can sample the molten metal 18; is operational during the blow period (not shown) of the converter 12 and is not impaired in its operation the slag 20 on the molten metal 18.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the improved probe assembly 10 (FIGS. l-10) can also be employed with the (2-80? converter shown in FIG. 9; the electric furnace shown in FIG. 10, the open hearth furnace shown in FIG. 11, the tiltable open hearth furnace shown in FIG. 12 and the hot metal mixer shown in FIG. 13 of U.S. Patent application Ser No. 346,555 filed Mar. 30, 1973 by W. A. Kolb and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

While in accordance with the patent statutes, preferred and alternative embodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby.

I claim: l. A .probe assembly for a converter pivotable about a horizontal axis from a vertical blow position to an inclined metal sampling position, said converter being provided with a mouth and containing molten metal covered by slag, said probe assembly having:

a. a frame; Y b. a mounting head pivotable on said frame; c. mounting head rotating means connected to said mounting head for causing relative rotative move ment between said frame and said mounting head;

d. a boom pivotable on said mounting head;

e. boom rotating means connected to said boom for causing relative rotative movement between said mounting head and said boom;

f. a probe holder pivotable on the free end of said boom;

g. probe holder rotating means connected to said probe holder for causing relative rotative movement between said probe holder and said. boom;

h. a probe on said probeholder;

by splashing of the molten metal 18 above the layer of i. said probe holder rotating means being operable to rotate said probe holder and said probe on said boom from a probe park position adjacent said boom away from said boom and toward said mouth I to a probe mouth clearing position;

3'. said mounting head rotating means being operable to rotate said mounting head on said frame from a mounting head park position through an intermediate mounting head position to a mounting head sampling position where said mounting head is in the sampling position and where said probe can clear said mouth to move into said probe sampling position;

k. said boom rotating means being operable to rotate said boom on said mounting head from the boom park position to the boom sampling position; and

I. said probe holder rotating means being operable to rotate said probe holder on said boom to a probe sampling position where said probe passes through said slag and into said molten metal.

2. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein:

a. said boom rotating means is operable to rotate said boom from the boom park position to the boom sampling position; and

b. said probe holder rotating means is simultaneously operable to rotate said probe holder on said boom to a probe sampling position where said probe passes through said slag and into said molten metal.

3. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein:

a. said mounting head rotating means is operable to rotate said mounting head from a mounting head park position on said frame through an intermediate mounting head position to a mounting head sampling position; and

b. said boom rotating means is simultaneously operable to rotate said booth on said mounting head from the boom park position to the boom sampling position. I

4. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein:

a. said mounting head rotating means is operable to rotate said mounting head from a mounting head park position on said frame through'an intermediate mounting head position to a mounting head sampling position where said mounting head is in the sampling position; and Y b. said probe holder rotating means being operable to rotate said probe holder onsaid boom to a probe sampling position where saidprobe passes through said slag and into said molten metal.

5. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein:

a. said probe holder and said probe form a substantially straight line continuation of said boom when said probe is in the probe sampling position.

6. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein:

a. said boom rotating means is operable to rotate said boom on said mounting head from the boom park position to the boom sampling position while said mounting head is in said intermediate position where said probe can be moved to said probe sampling position; and

b. said probe holder rotating means being operable to rotate said probe holder on said boom to a probe sampling position where said probe passes through said slag and into said molten metal while said mounting head is in said intermediate position where said probe can be moved to said probe sampling position.

7. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein:

a. said boom has an inner member and an outer member reciprocable with respect to said inner memher; and

b. boom reciprocating means is on one member of said inner member and said outer member and is connected to the other member of said inner member and said outer member for causing relative movement between said inner member and said outer member to a boom lengthening position thereby increasing the length of said boom.

8. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein:

a. said boom rotating means is operable to retract said boom on said mounting head from said boom sampling position to said boom park position; and

b. said probe holder rotating means is operable to retract said probe holder on said boom from said probe sampling position to said probe mouth clear-- ing position.

9. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein:

a. said boom rotating means is operable to retract said boom on said mounting head from said boom sampling position to said boom park positionyand b. said probe holder rotating means is simultaneously operable to retract said probe holder on said boom from said probe sampling position to said probe mouth clearing position.

10. The probe assembly recited in claim 8 wherein:

a. said mounting head rotating means is operable to retract said mounting head on said frame from said mounting head sampling position through said intermediate mounting head position to a mounting head sample removal position.

11. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein:

a. said mounting head rotating means is operable to retract said mounting head on said frame from said mounting head sampling position through said intermediate mounting head position to a mounting head sample removal position; and

b. said boom rotating means is operable to retract said boom on said mounting head from said boom sampling position to said boom park position.

12. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein:

a. said mounting head rotating means is operable to retract said mounting head on said frame from said mounting head sampling position through said intermediate mounting head position to a mounting head sample removal position; and

b. said probe holder rotating means is operable to re tract said probe holder on said boom from said probe sampling position to said probe mouth clearing position.

13. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein:

a. said boom rotating means is operable to retract said boom on said mounting head from said boom sampling position to said boom park position while said mounting head is in said intermediate position and said probe can be retracted from said probe sampling position; and

b. said probe holder rotating means is operable to retract said probe holder on said boom from said probe sampling position to said probe mouth clearing position while said mounting head is in said intermediate position and said probe can be retracted from said probe sampling position.

14. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein:

a. said boom includes an inner member and an outer member, one of which members is reciprocable with respect to the other of said members; and

b. boom extending means mounted on one of said inner and outer members and engageable with the other of said members whereby said boom extending means is operable to retract said probe from said molten metal and through said slag.

15. The probe assembly recited in claim 10 wherein:

a. said boom rotating means is operable to rotate said boom on said mounting head from said boom park position to a boom sample removal position away from said converter to position said probe adjacent an operator.

16. The probe assembly recited in claim 10 wherein:

a. said probe holder rotating means is operable to rotate said probe holder and said probe on said boom from said probe mouth clearing position away from said converter to a probe removal position to position said probe adjacent an operator.

17. The probe assembly recited in claim 15 further comprising:

I a. boom reciprocating means operable to extend said boom to position said probe adjacent an operator.

18. The probe assembly recited in claim 16 further comprising:

a. boom reciprocating means operable to extend said boom to position said probe adjacent an operator. 

1. A probe assembly for a converter pivotable about a horizontal axis from a vertical blow position to an inclined metal sampling position, said converter being provided with a mouth and containing molten metal covered by slag, said probe assembly having: a. a frame; b. a mounting head pivotable on said frame; c. mounting head rotating means connected to said mounting head for causing relative rotative movement between said frame and said mounting head; d. a boom pivotable on said mounting head; e. boom rotating means connected to said boom for causing relative rotative movement between said mounting head and said boom; f. a probe holder pivotable on the free end of said boom; g. probe holder rotating means connected to said probe holder for causing relative rotative movement between said probe holder and said boom; h. a probe on said probe holder; i. said probe holder rotating means being operable to rotate said probe holder and said probe on said boom from a probe park position adjacent said boom away from said boom and toward said mouth to a probe mouth clearing position; j. said mounting head rotating means being operable to rotate said mounting head on said frame from a mounting head park position through an intermediate mounting head position to a mounting head sampling position where said mounting head is in the sampling position and where said probe can clear said mouth to move into said probe sampling position; k. said boom rotating means being operable to rotate said boom on said mounting head from the boom park position to the boom sampling position; and l. said probe holder rotating means being operable to rotate said probe holder on said boom to a probe sampling position where said probe passes through said slag and into said molten metal.
 2. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein: a. said boom rotating means is operable to rotate said boom from the boom park position to the boom sampling position; and b. said probe holder rotating means is simultaneously operable to rotate said probe holder on said boom to a probe sampling position where said probe passes through said slag and into said molten metal.
 3. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein: a. said mounting head rotating means is operable to rotate said mounting head from a mounting head park position on said frame through an intermediate mounting head position to a mounting head sampling position; and b. said boom rotating means is simultaneously operable to rotate said boom on said mounting head from the boom park position to the boom sampling position.
 4. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein: a. said mounting head rotating means is operable to rotate said mounting head from a mounting head park position on said frame through an intermediate mounting head position to a mounting head sampling position where said mounting head is in the sampling position; and b. said probe holder rotating means being operable to rotate said probe holder on said boom to a probe sampling position where said probe passes through said slag and into said molten metal.
 5. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein: a. said probe holder and said probe form a substantially straight line continuation of said boom when said probe is in the probe sampling position.
 6. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein: a. said boom rotating means is operable to rotate said boom on said mounting head from the boom park position to the boom sampling position while said mounting head is in said intermediate position where said probe can be moved to said probe sampling position; and b. said probe holder rotating means being operable to rotate said probe holder on said boom to a probe sampling position where said probe passes through said slag and into said molten metal while said mounting head is in said intermediate position where said probe can be moved to said probe sampling position.
 7. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein: a. said boom has an inner member and an outer member reciprocable with respect to said inner member; and b. boom reciprocating means is on one member of said inner member and saiD outer member and is connected to the other member of said inner member and said outer member for causing relative movement between said inner member and said outer member to a boom lengthening position thereby increasing the length of said boom.
 8. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein: a. said boom rotating means is operable to retract said boom on said mounting head from said boom sampling position to said boom park position; and b. said probe holder rotating means is operable to retract said probe holder on said boom from said probe sampling position to said probe mouth clearing position.
 9. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein: a. said boom rotating means is operable to retract said boom on said mounting head from said boom sampling position to said boom park position; and b. said probe holder rotating means is simultaneously operable to retract said probe holder on said boom from said probe sampling position to said probe mouth clearing position.
 10. The probe assembly recited in claim 8 wherein: a. said mounting head rotating means is operable to retract said mounting head on said frame from said mounting head sampling position through said intermediate mounting head position to a mounting head sample removal position.
 11. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein: a. said mounting head rotating means is operable to retract said mounting head on said frame from said mounting head sampling position through said intermediate mounting head position to a mounting head sample removal position; and b. said boom rotating means is operable to retract said boom on said mounting head from said boom sampling position to said boom park position.
 12. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein: a. said mounting head rotating means is operable to retract said mounting head on said frame from said mounting head sampling position through said intermediate mounting head position to a mounting head sample removal position; and b. said probe holder rotating means is operable to retract said probe holder on said boom from said probe sampling position to said probe mouth clearing position.
 13. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein: a. said boom rotating means is operable to retract said boom on said mounting head from said boom sampling position to said boom park position while said mounting head is in said intermediate position and said probe can be retracted from said probe sampling position; and b. said probe holder rotating means is operable to retract said probe holder on said boom from said probe sampling position to said probe mouth clearing position while said mounting head is in said intermediate position and said probe can be retracted from said probe sampling position.
 14. The probe assembly recited in claim 1 wherein: a. said boom includes an inner member and an outer member, one of which members is reciprocable with respect to the other of said members; and b. boom extending means mounted on one of said inner and outer members and engageable with the other of said members whereby said boom extending means is operable to retract said probe from said molten metal and through said slag.
 15. The probe assembly recited in claim 10 wherein: a. said boom rotating means is operable to rotate said boom on said mounting head from said boom park position to a boom sample removal position away from said converter to position said probe adjacent an operator.
 16. The probe assembly recited in claim 10 wherein: a. said probe holder rotating means is operable to rotate said probe holder and said probe on said boom from said probe mouth clearing position away from said converter to a probe removal position to position said probe adjacent an operator.
 17. The probe assembly recited in claim 15 further comprising: a. boom reciprocating means operable to extend said boom to position said probe adjacent an operator.
 18. The probe assembly recited in claim 16 fuRther comprising: a. boom reciprocating means operable to extend said boom to position said probe adjacent an operator. 